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William  F.  Mahoney 


(  Late  a  Representative  from  Illinois) 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES  DELIVERED  IN 
THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES 


» 

Third  Session  of  the 
Fifty-eighth  Congress 


Compiled  under  the  Direction  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Printing 


WASHINGTON  GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE:  1905 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Proceedings  in  the  House 5 

Prayer  by  Rev.,  Henry  N.  Couden 5 

Prayer  by  Rev.  Henry  N.  Couden 8 

Address  of  Mr.  Mann,  of  Illinois 10 

Address  of  Mr.  Sulzer,  of  New  York 14 

Address  of  Mr.  Boutell,  of  Illinois 16 

Address  of  Mr.  Williams,  of  Illinois 18 

Address  of  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Indiana 21 

Address  of  Mr.  Emerich,  of  Illinois 24 

Address  of  Mr.  Ryan,  of  New  York 27 

Address  of  Mr.  Hunt,  of  Missouri 29 

Address  of  Mr.  Foster,  of  Illinois 31 

Proceedings  in  the  Senate 35 

3 


442315 


Death  of  Representative  Wbl  F.  Mahoney 


PROCEEDINGS  IN  THE  HOUSE 

Wednesday,  January  /,  1903. 

The  House  met  at   12  o'clock  noon. 

The  Chaplain,  Rev.  Henry  N.  Couden,  D.  D.,  offered  the 
following  prayer: 

Almighty  Father,  from  whom  cometh  all  that  is  purest, 
noblest,  and  best  in  life,  we  bless  Thee  for  the  hallowed 
associations,  the  social  pleasures,  and  uplifting  influence  of  the 
season  just  passed  into  history;  and  we  most  fervently  pray 
that  for  all  it  has  brought  to  us  of  joy  or  sorrow,  pleasure  or 
pain,  we  may  be  the  better  prepared  to  fulfill  our  destiny  as 
individuals  and  as  a  nation.  Inspire,  we  beseech  Thee,  each 
Member  of  this  House  with  wisdom  to  guide,  strength  to 
sustain,  patience  to  endure;  and  may  the  Spirit  that  cometh 
from  above  sustain  and  guide  the  Speaker  in  his  arduous 
duties,  that  the  work  of  the  session  may  be  for  the  good  of 
the  nation  and  redound  to  Thy  glory.  Once  more,  almighty 
God,  our  heavenly  Father,  are  we  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  one  of  the  Congressional  family,  who  graciously  and 
efficiently  filled  a  place  upon  this  floor  and  whose  genial 
presence  inspired  friendship  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  came  in 
contact  with  him.  Comfort  them  in  his  loss  and  be  especially 
near  to  the  sorrowing  wife  and  children,  that  they  may  look  up 
to  Thee  in  this  hour  of  bereavement   and  find  solace  in  the 

5 


6  Proceedings  in  the  House 

blessed  hope  of  that  land  which  is  fairer  than  day,  where  pain 
and  sorrow  never  enter,  and  where  peace  and  joy  will  reign 
forever,  through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen. 

DEATH    OF    REPRESENTATIVE    WILLIAM    F.  MAHONEY. 

Mr.  Mann.  Mr.  Speaker,  it  becomes  my  sad  duty  to  an- 
nounce to  the  House  the  death  of  my  late  colleague,  Wil- 
liam F.  Mahoney,  who  passed  away  at  his  home  in  Chicago 
on  the  27th  of  last  month. 

Following  the  precedents  of  the  House,  I  shall  not  at  this 
time  give  any  extended  expression  to  my  personal  sense  of 
loss  or  pay  tribute  to  his  worth;  but  I  shall  hereafter  ask 
the  House  to  set  aside  some  Sunday  afternoon  for  the  con- 
sideration of  his  personal  character  and  his  public  services, 
at  which  time  Members  of  the  House  may  fittingly  express 
their  grief  and  their  deep  respect. 

I  now  offer  the  resolutions  which  I  send  to  the  Clerk's 
desk. 

The  Clerk  read  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Representatives  has  heard  with  profound 
sorrow  and  deep  regret  of  the  death  of  Hon.  William  F.  Mahoney, 
late  a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  communicate  these  resolutions  to  the  Senate, 
and  also  a  copy  thereof  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  Representative. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  further  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased Representative  the  House  do  now  adjourn. 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  agreed  to;  and  accordingly 
(at  12  o'clock  and  10  minutes  p.  m.)  the  House  adjourned  until 
to-morrow  at   12  o'clock  noon. 


Proceedings  in  the  House  7 

January  5,  1905. 

message  from  the  senate. 

A  message  from  the  Senate,  by  Mr.  Parkinson,  its  reading 
clerk,  announced  that  the  Senate  had  passed  the  following 
resolutions: 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  has  heard  with  deep  sensibility  the  announce- 
ment of  the  death  of  Hon.  Wiujam  F.  Mahoney,  late  a  Representative 
from  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Resolved,  That  as  an  additional  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the 
deceased  the  Senate  do.  now  adjourn. 

February  9,   1905. 
memorial  exercises. 

Mr.  Mann.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  ask  unanimous  consent  that 
Sunday,  February  26,  beginning  at  12  o'clock,  be  devoted  to 
memorial  exercises  on  the  life  and  character  of  the  late  Rep- 
resentative William  F.  Mahoney,  from  the  State  of  Illinois. 

The  Speaker.  Is  there  objection  to  the  request  of  the 
gentleman  from  Illinois? 

There  was  no  objection. 


MEMORIAL  ADDRESSES 

Sunday,  February  26,  1905. 

The  House  was  called  to  order  at  12  o'clock  noon  by 
William  J.  Browning,  Chief  Clerk,  who  announced  that  the 
Speaker  had  designated  the  Hon.  William  P.  Hepburn  as 
Speaker  pro  tempore  for  this  day. 

Mr.  Hepburn  took  the  chair  as  Speaker  pro  tempore. 

The  Chaplain,  Rev.  Henry  N.  Couden,  D.  D.,  offered  the 
following  prayer: 

Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven,  we  thank  Thee  for  that 
deep  and  ever-abiding  faith  which  looks  up  to  Thee  as  the 
creator,  upholder,  and  sustainer  of  all,  and  for  that  eternal 
hope  which  binds  us  to  Thee  by  ties  which  neither  time  nor 
space  can  sever.  "For  I  am  persuaded  that  neither  death, 
nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor  powers,  nor  things 
present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any 
other  creature  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  our  I,ord."  For  without  these 
angels  from  Thy  heart,  O  God,  life  would  be  indeed  a  desert 
without  a  single  oasis  to  cheer  the  weary  traveler  on  his  way. 
With  these  even  the  mystery  of  death  is  solved,  so  when  it 
comes  and  takes  away  our  dear  ones  we  can  throw  ourselves 
into  the  everlasting  arms  and  feel  the  warm  pulsations  of  a 
heavenly  Father's  heart  and  say: 

There  is  no  death!     What  seems  so  is  transition; 

This  life  of  mortal  breath 
Is  but  a  suburb  of  the  life  elysian, 

Whose  portal  we  call  Death 

8 


Memorial  Addresses  9 

So  send,  we  beseech  Thee,  our  heavenly  Father,  these  angels 
to  comfort  the  hearts  of  the  colleagues,  friends,  and  families 
of  those  for  whom  we  have  gathered  here  to-day  in  loving 
remembrance,  and  Thine  be  the  praise  forever,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  our  Lord.     Amen. 

The  Journal  of  yesterday's  proceedings  was  read  and  ap- 
proved. 

THE    LATE    HON.    WILLIAM    F.    MAHONEY. 

Mr.  Mann.  Mr.  Speaker,  I  offer  the  resolutions  which  I 
send  to  -the  Clerk's  desk. 

The  Speaker  pro  tempore.  The  gentleman  from  Illinois 
offers  the  resolutions  which  the  Clerk  will  report. 

The  Clerk  read  as  follows: 

Resolved,  That  in  pursuance  of  the  special  order  heretofore  adopted 
the  House  proceed  to  pay  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Hon.  William  F. 
Mahoney,  late  a  Member  of  this  House  from  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  particular  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the 
deceased,  and  in  recognition  of  his  eminent  abilities  as  a  faithful  and 
distinguished  public  servant,  the  House,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  memo- 
rial proceedings  of  this  day,  shall  stand  adjourned. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  communicate  these  resolutions  to  the  Senate. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  be,  and  is  hereby,  instructed  to  send  a  copy 
of  these  resolutions  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 


io  Life  and  Character  of  JVm.  F.  Mahoney 


Address  of  Mr.  Mann,  of  Illinois 

Mr.  Speaker:  William  Frank  Mahoney  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1856.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Chicago  on  Decem- 
ber 27,  1904.  He  was  born  in  Chicago,  he  lived  in  Chicago 
all  of  his  life,  and  he  died  in  Chicago.  He  was  born  in  the 
district  which  he  represented  in  Congress — a  condition  which 
has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  paralleled  in  Chicago.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  20  entered 
upon  a  successful  business  career  which  made  him  one  of  the 
prominent  merchants  of  his  city. 

The  parliamentary  contest  in  Ireland  excited  his  active 
attention  in  his  early  life,  and  he  became  a  considerable  con- 
tributor to  the  Irish  parliamentary  funds,  as  well  as  promi- 
nently identified  with  various  Irish- American  societies. 

I  first  met  Mr.  Mahoney  when  I  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Chicago  city  council,  in  April,  1892.  He  was  then  a 
member  of  that  body.  He  was  elected  to  the  city  council  six 
times,  each  term  being  for  two  years,  and  each  reelection 
increased  his  majority. 

I  came  to  know  him  well  in  the  city  council  and  to  have 
respect  for  his  manly  figure,  his  courteous  ways,  and  his  mild 
but  determined  manner.  He  was  a  Democrat.  I  was  a 
Republican.  We  were  of  opposite  political  faiths,  and  our 
views  as  to  the  terms  upon  which  public  franchises  ought  to  be 
granted  by  the  council  did  not  agree. 

We  were  usually  on  opposite  sides  of  important  questions, 
but  I  learned  to  respect  and  admire  him.  The  city  council  of 
Chicago  then  had  sixty-eight  members.     It  was  the  sole  local 


Address  of  Mr.  Mann,  of  Illinois  u 

legislative  body  for  a  population  of  between  one  and  two  mil- 
lions. The  amount  of  business  transacted  by  it  was  enormous 
and  covered  all  the  range  of  subjects  possible  to  arise  in  a 
growing  city  or  locality.  It  required  the  same  devotion  to 
duty,  the  same  attention  to  constituents,  the  same  constant 
looking  out  for  the  welfare  of  his  ward,  in  order  to  make  a 
good  city  alderman,  that  it  does  to  make  a  good  Member  of 
Congress.  To  be  six  times  elected  to  the  city  council  of 
Chicago  is  proof  of  the  affectionate  esteem  in  which  Mr. 
Mahoney  was  held  by  the  people  of  his  ward  whom  he  rep- 
resented. He  was  raised  in  their  midst;  he  was  with  them 
as  a  boy,  as  a  young  man,  and  as  a  public  servant.  His 
sweetness  of  disposition,  his  kindliness  of  manner,  his  readi- 
ness to  attend  to  their  needs  and  their  wants,  his  willingness 
to  at  all  times  be  of  service  to  the  humblest  of  them,  even 
at  the  sacrifice  of  his  personal  comfort,  gained  for  him  not 
only  their  esteem  and  their  admiration,  but  as  well  their  love. 

Having  served  a  long  career  in  the  legislative  body  of  his 
city,  he  was  transferred  by  his  constituents  as  their  Repre- 
sentative in  the  National  Legislature,  and  was  first  elected 
in  1900  as  a  member  of  the  Fifty-seventh  Congress,  and 
reelected  to  the  Fifty-eighth  Congress  in   1902. 

He  was  not  naturally  a  boisterous  man  in  any  way.  He 
was  quiet.  He  was  mild  mannered.  Among  the  new  asso- 
ciates in  this  body,  he  was  yet  diffident  and  somewhat  bash- 
ful. These  traits  would  naturally  have  made  him  less  well 
known  among  the  membership  here  than  would  otherwise 
have  been  the  case.  But  he  never  enjoyed  good  health  after 
he  came  to  Congress.  The  fatal  malady  had  already  com- 
menced its  work.  He  did  not  realize  this  so  soon  as  some 
of  his  friends  who  observed  him.  He  stuck  to  his  post  here 
and   did   the   best   he   could,  but    his   poor  health    kept    him 


12  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 

more  or  less  in  retirement.  He  remained  at  his  desk  in  the 
House  until  the  last,  and  attended  the  last  meeting  of  the 
House  before  the  holiday  adjournment.  Just  a  few  days 
before  that  I  had  requested  the  Chicago  Members  of  Congress 
to  gather  in  my  committee  room  for  the  purpose  of  consulting 
about  an  appropriation  for  postal  appliances  in  the  new 
Chicago  post-office  building.  Mr.  Mahoney  was  the  first 
one  to  arrive.  He  was  then  almost  too  weak  to  be  around. 
But  he  was  anxious  to  do  anything  he  could  for  his  city. 
His  two  boys  were  here  with  him  in  December,  and  I  remem- 
ber meeting  him  with  them  one  day  and  how  proud  he  was 
of  them,  and  as  I  looked  into  their  manly  faces  I  did  not 
wonder  at  the  pride  he  showed.  And  I  thought  to  myself 
that  when  he  has  gone  over  the  river,  as  he  soon  will  go, 
they  will  be  as  proud  that  they  are  the  children  of  such  a 
father  as  he  is  now  proud  of  them. 

His  wife  and  his  four  children — two  girls  and  two  boys — 
were  his  comfort  and  his  delight.  He  leaves  a  heritage  of 
name  and  fame  in  public  office  and  private  life  of  priceless 
value  to  these  children.  He  was  a  devoted  husband,  a  kind, 
considerate,  loving  parent,  a  faithful  member  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  an  esteemed  citizen,  an  affectionate  friend,  a  faithful 
legislator.  He  has  left  us  when  he  was  riding  the  wave, 
when  in  point  of  years  he  was  at  his  best.  He  did  his 
share  and  more  than  his  share  of  work.  He  worked  not 
for  himself,  but  for  others.  There  was  no  selfishness  in  him. 
There  was  nothing  mean  or  sordid  about  him.  He  was  always 
cheery  and  good-hearted. 

L,et  us  hope  that  the  kind  Providence  which  has  now 
transferred  his  duties  to  another  sphere  of  existence  will 
deal  gently  and  kindly  with  those  left  behind  who  were 
dependent  upon  him. 


Address  of  Mr.  Mann,  of  Illinois  13 

Mr.  Speaker,  in  the  midst  of  the  last  few  weeks  of  the 
busiest  session  of  Congress  for  years,  when  time  is  pressing 
us  on  every  side,  we  pause  from  our  legislative  duties  to  pay 
our  tributes  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  this  man  who  had 
done  so  much  for  others  and  who  had  made  such  a  successful 
career  for  himself. 

We  offer  to  his  bereaved  widow  and  to  his  children  our 
sorrowful  grief  over  this  desolation  which  has  come  into  their 
lives,  and  venture  to  express  the  hope  that  they  will  find 
consolation  in  the  contemplation  of  the  noble  qualities  of 
him  who  was  husband  and  father. 


14  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 


Address  of  Mr.  Sulzer,  of  New  York 

Mr.  Speaker:  As  a  friend  of  William  F.  Mahoney,  I 
come  to-day  to  place  on  record  my  humble  tribute  to  his 
memory.  His  unexpected  death  was  a  grievous  blow  to  all 
his  colleagues  in  this  House,  and  a  terrible  shock  to  his  family, 
his  relatives,  and  his  innumerable  friends.  It  darkened  a 
happy  home,  prostrated  a  loving  family,  and  cast  a  pall  of 
sadness  over  his  native  city.  He  died  in  the  prime  of  life,  at 
the  summit  of  his  career,  in  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  in  the 
service  of  his  country,  loved  and  mourned  by  all  who  knew 
him.     But — 

There  is  a  reaper  whose  name  is  Death, 

And  with  his  sickle  keen 
He  reaps  the  bearded  grain  at  a  breath, 

And  the  flowers  that  grow  between. 

And  our  friend  was  a  kindly,  stately,  knightly  flower  in 
the  great  garden  of  mankind. 

William  F.  Mahoney  was  born  in  Chicago  in  1856.  He 
was  a  true  son  of  the  great  metropolis  of  the  West — that 
go-ahead,  up-to-date,  progressive,  enterprising,  and  wonderful 
city  on  Lake  Michigan.  He  was  a  product  of  Chicago,  and 
he  loved  his  native  city  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  nature,  and 
always  grew  eloquent  when  discussing  her  greatness  and  her 
glories.  He  was  educated  in  her  schools,  grew  to  manhood 
in  her  smiles  and  sunshine,  became  one  of  her  leading  mer- 
chants, served  twelve  years  in  her  local  legislature,  and  became 
one  of  her  most  prominent,  popular,  and  distinguished  citizens. 
He  was  proud  of  Chicago,  and  Chicago  was  proud  of  him. 
She  sent  him  to  the  Fifty-seventh  and  Fifty-eighth  Congresses, 
and  I  doubt  not  he  could  have  had  any  honor  in  her  gift. 


Address  of  Mr.  Sulzer,  of  New  York  15 

I  knew  Congressman  Mahoney  well.  We  served  together 
for  several  years  on  the  same  committee  in  this  House.  He 
was  a  good  man  and  a  true  man.  He  had  a  genial,  sunshiny 
nature,  a  kindly,  sympathetic  disposition,  and  an  attractive, 
magnetic,  popular  personality.  He  quickly  made  friends,  and 
the  friendships  lasted  for  life.  He  was  a  friend  of  the  poor, 
of  the  oppressed,  and  of  the  unfortunate.  He  was  a  lover  of 
justice,  a  believer  in  the  supremacy  of  law,  and  an  advocate  of 
every  righteous  cause.  He  stood  for  great  principles,  for  fair 
play,  for  even-handed  opportunity,  and  for  equal  rights  to  all, 
special  privileges  to  none.  He  hated  cant,  spurned  pretense, 
and  despised  hypocrisy.  He  was  no  skeptic — no  cynic.  He 
was  an  optimist,  and  not  a  pessimist.  He  loved  mankind,  and 
believed  the  world  is  growing  better.  He  was  a  loving  hus- 
band, an  indulgent  father,  and  a  faithful  friend.  He  will 
live  in  the  hearts  and  the  memories  of  those  who  knew  him, 
and  to  do  this  is  not  to  die.  Death  after  all  is  but  the  crown 
of  life — the  opening  of  the  door  into  the  better,  brighter 
sunshine  of  the  undiscovered  country  in  the  great  beyond. 

William  F.  Mahoney  was  a  successful  man.  His  life 
work  is  done.  He  has  run  his  course.  He  has  kept  the 
faith.  His  career  on  earth  is  finished,  and  he  will  reap  his 
everlasting  reward  in  the  celestial  land.  We  mourn  with 
those  who  mourn  his  loss,  and  sympathize  with  his  bereaved 
family.  We  grieve  with  those  who  grieve,  and  we  comfort 
them  as  best  we  can,  in  our  poor  human  way,  with  the  con- 
solation that  his  noble  life,  his  generous  character,  his 
sympathies,  his  charities,  his  deeds  of  kindness,  and  his 
humanities  will  live  forever  and  a  day,  and  be  his  greatest 
monument — grander  than  marble  or  brass,  and  more  enduring 
than  the  granite  rocks  of  all  the  ages,  for — 

We  live  in  deeds,  not  years;  in  thoughts,  not  breaths; 
In  feelings,  not  in  figures  cold  on  the  dial  plate  of  time. 


1 6  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Ma  honey 


Address  of  Mr.  Boutell,  of  Illinois 

Mr.  Speaker:  My  acquaintance  with  our  late  colleague, 
whose  life  and  services  we  have  met  to  commemorate  to-day, 
began  when  he  entered  the  Fifty-seventh  Congress.  During 
the  last  three  years  this  acquaintance  ripened  into  a  friend- 
ship founded  upon  a  high  regard  for  his  character.  Three 
qualities  in  Mr.  Mahoney  especially  attracted  my  attention, 
and,  I  think,  the  attention  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
always  keenly  alive  to  the  claims  and  interests  of  his  home 
city.  Whenever  any  matter  that  affected  the  welfare  of 
Chicago  demanded  the  attention  of  our  delegation,  no  one 
was  more  intelligently  active  or  more  zealous  in  its  support 
than  was  our  late  colleague.  His  long  residence  in  Chicago 
and  his  extended  service  in  the  city  council  made  him 
familiar  with  the  needs  of  our  city,  and  we  always  found 
his  advice  and  suggestions  on  practical  matters  relating  to 
Chicago  of  great  value. 

Another  admirable  quality  of  our  friend  that  drew  favorable 
comment  from  all  who  were  familiar  with  his  Congressional 
career  was  his  faithful  attention  to  the  routine  duties  of  his 
office.  Unless  kept  away  by  ill  health,  he  was  always  in  his 
seat  when  the  House  convened,  and  he  was  constant  in  his 
attendance  during  the  sessions  and  quietly  attentive  to  all 
the  business  in  the  House.  He  never  failed  in  diligent 
attention  to  the  business  and  requests  of  his  constituents.  It 
was  my  privilege  to  consult  with  Mr.  Mahoney  on  several 
occasions  in  regard  to  measures  in  which  we  were  mutually 
interested,  and  I  found  him  invariably  well  informed  respecting 
the  measures  of  which  he  had  charge. 


Address  of  Mr.  Bontell,  of  Illinois  1 7 

In  our  large  body  various  talents  contribute  to  the  successful 
transaction  of  the  public  business,  and  men  here  attain  fame  in 
divers  spheres  of  activity;  but  I  know  of  no  talent  that  receives 
from  thoughtful  men  more  speedy  recognition  and  more  gen- 
eral commendation  than  does  the  talent  for  patient,  intelligent 
devotion  to  the  routine  business  of  the  House,  a  talent  for 
which  our  friend  was  so  conspicuous. 

And  finally,  Mr.  Speaker,  I  wish  to  bear  grateful  testimony 
to  one  rare  and  beautiful  quality  that  ennobled  and  dignified 
the  life  of  our  good  friend.  He  suffered  frequently  during  the 
latter  months  of  his  life  from  the  weakness  and  depression 
attendant  upon  serious  illness,  but  no  word  of  murmuring  or 
complaint  was  ever  heard  by  his  associates.  He  bore  himself  in 
all  his  periods  of  suffering  with  unfailing  cheerfulness,  dignity, 
and  courtesy.  With  his  genial  and  affable  disposition,  his 
cordial  sympathy,  and  strong  affection  he  was  deeply  beloved 
as  a  husband  and  father  and  was  held  in  affectionate  esteem  by 
all  who  knew  him  well. 

Mr.  Mahoney's  service  in  the  House  of  Representatives  was 
short,  but  it  was  long  enough  to  afford  him  the  opportunity  of 
establishing  an  enviable  reputation  for  faithful  attention  to  the 
duties  of  his  office,  patriotic  devotion  to  the  service  of  his  con- 
stituents, and  dignified,  cheerful  resignation  under  acute  bodily 
suffering. 

Such  a  reputation,  Mr.  Speaker,  is  the  best  and  most  endur- 
ing gift  that  any  man  can  bequeath  to  his  family  and  friends. 

We  shall  do  well  if  we  shall  carry  away  from  this  ceremony  a 
renewed  determination  to  emulate  the  virtues  that  make  the 
life  of  our  departed  friend  a  pleasant  and  a  fruitful  memory. 
H.  Doc.  468,  58-3 2 


1 8  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 


Address  of  Mr.  Williams,  of  Illinois 

Mr.  Speaker:  While  I  am  not  generally  inclined  to  partici- 
pate in  ceremonies  of  this  character,  I  can  not  permit  this 
opportunity  to  pass  without  submitting  a  few  remarks  as  my 
humble  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  our  departed 
colleague.  And  yet,  how  incomplete  seems  all  our  helpless 
words  when  we  undertake  to  express  our  sorrow  upon  the 
death  of  a  close  and  loving  friend.  It  is  certainly  a  very  com- 
mendable usage  of  Congress  to  commit  to  its  public  records 
some  evidence  of  its  mourning  upon  the  death  of  one  of  its 
distinguished  Members,  as  well  as  its  estimate  of  the  life  and 
character  of  the  deceased.  Such  solemn  services  help  to  remind 
us  of  that  eternal  future  which  awaits  us  all.  My  acquaintance 
with  Mr.  Mahoney  began  at  the  commencement  of  the  Fifty- 
seventh  Congress  and  soon  grew  and  ripened  into  a  warm, 
personal  friendship. 

He  was  so  kind,  gentle,  and  affectionate  in  his  companion- 
ship that  he  soon  won  the  love  and  admiration  of  those  who 
had  the  pleasure  of  his  association.  I  had  the  honor  of  being 
selected  by  the  Speaker  of  this  House  as  a  member  of  the 
committee  chosen  to  attend  the  funeral  of  our  deceased  brother, 
and  the  performance  of  that  sad  duty  gave  me  the  opportunity 
to  witness  the  large  concourse  of  admiring  friends  who  assem- 
bled at  the  residence  of  the  deceased  in  the  splendid  city  of  his 
birth  and  life,  where  they  came  to  bid  a  sad  and  affectionate 
farewell  to  one  who  had  endeared  himself  to  them  all  by  his 
many  kindly  deeds  and  his  faithful  public  service. 


Address  of  Mr.  Williams,  of  Illinois  19 

For  twelve  long  years  had  he  wisely  and  honestly  represented 
their  public  interests  in  the  common  council  of  Chicago,  a  por-.i- 
tion  in  which  the  honor  and  integrity  of  the  public  citizen  are 
thoroughly  tested.  And  never  in  all  those  eventful  years  was 
there  the  slightest  suspicion  against  the  official  acts  of  Mr. 
Mahoney.  He  was  a  Member  of  the  Fifty-seventh  and  Fifty- 
eighth  Congresses,  and  by  his  honest  and  faithful  service  as 
such  established  for  himself  as  clean  and  pure  a  record  as  any 
Member  of  this  body.  He  was  modest  almost  to  timidity, 
and  never  engaged  in  public  discussions  upon  the  floor  of  the 
House,  but  always  attentive  to  matters  of  legislation,  careful 
and  considerate  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  usually  safe 
in  his  conclusions.  While  loyal  to  his  own  convictions  and 
positive  in  his  own  views  upon  public  questions,  he  was  always 
so  modest  and  courteous  in  his  contentious  as  never  to  offend 
those  who  differed  from  his  opinions.  Mr.  Mahoney  was  a 
Democrat  in  politics,  but  not  offensive  in  his  partisanship,  and 
numbered  among  the  Republicans  many  of  his  most  admiring 
friends. 

He  was  ever  watchful  over  the  interests  of  his  constituents, 
attentive  to  all  their  various  calls,  and  seemed  to  find  his 
greatest  pleasure  in  trying  to  oblige  others.  He  was  well 
informed  on  all  passing  subjects,  pleasant  in  conversation,  and 
so  retiring  and  winning  in  all  his  bearing  as  to  make  a  friend 
of  everyone  who  enjoyed  his  personal  acquaintance.  Mr. 
Mahoney  died  at  the  early  age  of  46  years,  comparatively  a 
young  man,  and  yet,  when  measured  by  public  service,  he  had 
lived  a  long,  eventful  life — long  enough  to  establish  for  himself 
the  character  of  a  good  Christian  citizen,  a  straightforward, 
successful  business  man,  a  true  and  obliging  friend,  a  loving 
and   devoted    husband,   a    kind    and    affectionate    father,    and 


20  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 

an  honest  and  capable  public  servant,  and  to  secure  for 
his  memory  an  honorable  distinction  in  the  history  of  his 
country. 

Upon  the  loss  of  such  a  friend,  such  a  husband,  and  such 
a  father,  how  precious  the  thought — 

There  is  no  death!     The  stars  go  down 

To  rise  upon  soriie  fairer  shore, 
And  bright  in  heaven's  jeweled  crown 

They  shine  forevermore. 

There  is  no  death!     But  angel  forms 
Walk  o'er  the  earth  with  silent  tread; 

They  bear  our  best  loved  things  away, 
And  then  we  call  them  dead. 


Address  of  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Indiana  2 1 


Address  of  Mr,  Robinson,  of  Indiana 

Mr.  Speaker:  Legislators  may  come  to  the  active  duties  and 
responsibilities  of  Congressional  life  and  men  may  go,  but  the 
Government  goes  on.  Within  a  week  the  bonds  that  bind  this 
Congress  together  will  be  dissundered,  and  Members  who  have 
stood  together  for  interests  of  State  and  country  will  part — 
too  many  to  meet  no  more. 

The  future,  however,  will  bring  no  sweeter  recollection  than 
the  personal  friendships  engendered  in  this  official  life.  Dif- 
fering widely  in  politics  and  individual  opinion  on  the  great 
questions  of  public  concern,  the  me'mbership  of  this  House 
never  fail  to  unite,  with  heads  and  hearts  together,  in  the 
great  impulses  that  lead  along  the  pathway  of  humanity. 

In  consonance  with  a  beautiful  custom,  and  agreeable  to  our 
traditions,  we  meet  this  solemn  Sabbath  day  to  memorialize  a 
deceased  Member,  who  has  gone  to  that  country  of  infallibility 
where  Congresses  and  courts  are  not  needed  to  enact  and  pass 
upon  the  virtue  of  rules  for  human  action. 

Only  in  a  Congress  of  a  country  like  this — the  strongest,  the 
richest,  and  the  best — can  be  found  such  a  diversity  of  ability 
and  talent,  such  a  fund  of  information  and  knowledge  of  our 
manifold  and  important  interests. 

As  this  is  the  greatest  age  of  the  world  in  scientific,  moral, 
and  material  progress,  so  does  this  country,  at  this  moment, 
stand  at  the  head  of  all  the  countries. 

To  be  selected  as  a  Member  of  Congress  in  this  era  is  a 
distinction  to  be  made  brighter  by  a  conscientious  perform- 
ance of  duty  within  one's  opportunities.  Indeed,  reward  and 
approval  of  constituency  come  from  this  course. 


22  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 

We  eulogize  Hon.  William  F.  Mahoney  to-day  as  a  true 
representative  of  his  people,  as  a  conscientious  legislator  for 
his  country.  Some  may  excel  in  forensic  ability,  others  in 
power  to  sway  by  their  eloquence,  and  some  in  analysis  of 
statistics.  Some  are  informed  in  matters  concerning  the 
marts  of  commerce  and  the  avenues  of  trade,  others  have 
intimate  knowledge  of  mines  and  prairies,  of  the  mountain 
sections  and  the  deserts.  Each  knows  human  nature,  each 
knows  the  needs  of  his  constituency.  All  are  needed  to 
rule  a  country  like  this,  and  none  are  less  needed  than  the 
others. 

A  Congress  of  orators  would  be  less  useful  than  a  Con- 
gress of  business  men,  and  within  this  class  all  are  compre- 
hended who  have  business,  and  in  a  republic  all  should  have. 

In  a  country  so  wide  in  area,  with  interests  so  vast,  so 
varied,  each  employment  and  vocation  must  have  its  repre- 
sentatives here  to  leaven  this  body,  to  balance  and  adjust  it, 
to  make  it  representative,  and  thus  we  meet  the  ideals  of  a 
republic.  The  grave  is  a  common  leveler.  As  with  a  sponge 
it  wipes  out  all  distinction.  The  only  questions  there — "The 
purity  of  life;"    "The  rectitude  of  conduct." 

Glancing  about  us  daily  in  this  Chamber  we  see  every- 
where written  that  constituency  asks  only,  "Is  he  faithful?" 
"Has  he  performed  his  duty?" 

Modest  and  unassuming,  vigilant  in  preserving  the  rights 
and  interests  of  his  people,  careful  in  promoting  legislation 
which  he  conceived  to  be  for  the  best  interests  of  the  country, 
by  every  standard  worthy  of  the  name  Hon.  William  F. 
Mahoney  measured  up  to  the  true  type  of  a  Representative 
in  Congress. 

Votes  in  Congress  mold  for  weal  or  for  woe  the  policies  of 
the  country,  and  count  far  more  in  legislation  than  the  oratory 


Address  of  Mr.  Robinson,  of  Indiana  23 

of  the  comparatively  few  among  the  large  membership  that  can 
be  heard  on  either  side  of  the  proposition.  The  latter  lend  a 
charm  and  eloquence  to  the  proceedings,  but  the  careful,  silent, 
plodding  membership  counts  in  committees  and  on  the  votes 
that  decide  the  questions.  To  this  large,  useful,  and  influ- 
ential class  of  careful,  painstaking  Members  the  deceased  be- 
longed, and  for  this  he  had  the  confidence  of  his  constituency; 
for  this  he  lives  in  the  hearts  of  his  people. 


24  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 


Address  of  Mr.  Emerich,  of  Illinois 

Mr.  Speaker:  Most  of  the  Members  of  this  House,  and  all 
of  the  representatives  of  the  great  city  of  Chicago  will  long 
recall  with  feelings  of  acute  regret  one  somber  winter  day  near 
the  close  of  the  year  1904.  On  that  day,  when  we  were  all 
under  the  spell  of  holiday  pleasures  just  enjoyed,  there  came 
unto  us  with  paralyzing  force  a  terrible  shock.  We  all  knew 
that  he  was  ailing,  but  in  our  love  and  regard  for  the  man  we 
were  absolutely  unable  to  believe  that  so  suddenly  were  we  to 
be  deprived  of  his  genial  comradeship,  his  kindly  personality, 
his  unflagging  friendship,  his  untiring  devotion  to  the  public 
weal.  On  that  fateful  27th  day  of  December,  with  appalling 
abruptness,  was  terminated  the  useful  career  of  one  whom  that 
great  Garden  City  of  the  West  had  often  and  deservedly  de- 
lighted to  honor.     On  that  day  died  William  F.  Mahoney. 

Here  was  a  man  who  in  himself  typified  all  of  the  best  qual- 
ities of  citizenship  which  flourish  in  that  great  section  of  our 
country  of  which  the  city  he  so  dearly  loved  and  so  faithfully 
served  is  eminently  representative. 

Here  was  a  man  who  in  all  his  public  and  private  affairs 
was  impelled  by  the  truest  and  purest  altruism. 

Here  was  a  man  in  whom  the  golden  rule  was  strikingly 
exemplified,  who  unto  others  did  as  he  would  have  them  do 
unto  him  and  regardless  of  what  was  unto  him  done,  invariably 
dealt  with  his  neighbors,  his  constituents,  his  friends — aye, 
with  all  human  kind — in  the  broadest,  most  charitable,  most 
unselfish  spirit. 

Although  of  another  religious  faith,  he  was  in  the  truest 
sense  a  unitarian — nay,  more,  a  humanitarian — for  all  mankind 


Address  of  Mr.  Emerich,  of  Illinois  25 

were  his  brethren,  and  race,  creed,  and  condition  were  to  him 
naught  but  words.  In  his  great,  throbbing,  manly,  generous 
brain  he  really  knew  no  distinction. 

His  private  life,  his  private  honor,  were  pure  and  stainless; 
his  business  career  honorable  and  upright;  his  public  service 
a  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  community  he  represented. 

William  F.  Mahoney  was  born  and  reared  in  Chicago. 
There  he  spent  his  boyhood,  his  adolescence,  and  all  his 
useful  manhood  until  his  untimely  death.  Chicago's  interests 
were  his  interests;  Chicago's  glory  his  glory;  Chicago's 
honor  his  honor;  Chicago's  progress,  greatness,  and  preemi- 
nence the  objects  of  his  greatest  solicitude;  and  to  procure 
and  to  maintain  these  did  he  devote  a  lifetime  of  earnest 
effort  and  render  yeoman  service. 

One  section  of  our  city — known  as  the  "west  side" — is 
the  principal  abode  of  the  great  army  of  toilers,  to  the  fruits 
of  whose  toil  and  grime  and  sweat  are  largely  due  the  city's 
greatness. 

Among  these  he  lived.  These  he  loved.  Him  these 
loved,  and  with  good  reason,  for  morning  and  night,  early 
and  late,  unremittingly  he  toiled  and  strove  and  battled  for 
their  rights. 

Other  men  may  have  possessed  more  striking  talents,  but 
none  more  solid  than  he.  Other  men  may  have  stood  forth 
more  prominently  in  the  glare  of  notoriety;  none  better  nor 
more  faithfully  represented  his  constituency  than  did  he. 
Other  men  may  have  been  more  widely  known,  but  none, 
despite  his  modest  and  retiring  character,  more  intimately 
appreciated  nor  more  sincerely  loved  by  his  neighbors  than 
was  he. 

In  his  loss  his  family  loses  and  mourns  a  wise,  tender, 
generous,  and  devoted  husband  and  father. 


26  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  K  Mahoney 

In  his  loss  his  constituency  loses  and  mourns  a  faithful, 
earnest,  conscientious  servant. 

In  his  loss  his  city  loses  and  mourns  a  good,  upright, 
public-spirited,  patriotic  citizen. 

In  his  loss  we,  his  coworkers  and  friends,  lose  and  mourn 
a  big-hearted,  big-brained,  supreme^  valued  and  thoroughly 
appreciated  companion. 

In  his  life  is  to  be  found  an  example  to  be  emulated — an 
object  lesson  of  patriotic  fidelity  and  democratic  simplicity 
such  as  the  founders  of  the  Republic  believed  to  be  the 
underlying  basis  of  the  perpetuity  of  free  institutions. 

In  his  death  his  immortal  spirit  ascends  to  the  seat  of  divine 
grace  accompanied  by  a  solemn  chorus  of  thanks  and  blessings 
that  such  as  Wiluam  F.  Mahoney  has  lived  in  this  world 
for  this  world's  good,  and  this  chorus  is  direct  from  the  sincere 
hearts  of  all  who  loved  him — and  they  are  all  who  in  his  life 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  know  him. 


Address  of  Mr.  Ryan,  of  New  York  27 


Address  of  Mr*  Ryan,  of  New  York 

Mr.  Speaker  :  We  are  called  to-day  to  pay  the  last  tribute 
of  respect  to  the  memory  of  a  colleague  who  has  been  called  to 
the  life  beyond,  and  it  is  fitting  that  we  should  pause  amid  the 
trials  of  legislative  duty  to  bear  public  testimony  to  the  life  and 
character  of  one  who  but  a  few  weeks  ago  occupied  a  seat  on 
this  floor  and  took  part  in  the  deliberations  of  this  body. 

I  met  William  F.  Mahoney  for  the  first  time  on  the 
assembling  of  the  Fifty-seventh  Congress,  in  December,  1901, 
and  my  acquaintance  with  him  grew  into  a  warm  friendship. 
I  greatly  admired  his  gentle  bearing,  his  quiet  manner,  his 
warm  friendship — always  ready  to  do  his  utmost  to  serve  his 
district,   his  party,   and  his  country. 

William  Frank  Mahoney  was  born  in  the  city  of  Chicago, 
111.,  on  February  22,  1856  ;  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  city ;  represented  his  ward  in  the  Chicago  city 
council  for  a  period  of  twelve  years,  after  which  he  was  unani- 
mously nominated  for  Representative  in  Congress  for  the 
Eighth  district  of  Illinois  and  was  elected  to  the  Fifty-seventh 
Congress,  taking  his  seat  December,  1901.  He  was  reelected 
in  1902  by  practically  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  electors  of  his 
district.  As  a  Member  of  this  House  he  served  as  a  member 
of  the  great  Committee  on  Military  Affairs,  and  when  he  passed 
away  was  making  an  enviable  record  as  a  Member  of  this  body. 

In  a  conversation,  before  the  holiday  adjournment,  he 
informed  me  that  his  health  was  improving,  and  I  had  hoped 
he  would  soon  regain  his  former  strength,  but  an  all- wise 
Providence  ruled  differently,  and  before  the  holiday  season  had 


28  Life  and  Character  of  IVm.  F.  Mahoney 

closed  the  sad  news  came  that  death  had  claimed  him,  and 
instead  of  greeting  him  at  the  opening  of  this  session,  as  I 
would  have  been  glad  to  do,  I  am  here  to  add  my  tribute  to 
his  memory. 

Mr.  Mahoney  had  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people 
of  his  district.  Those  who  knew  him  best  loved  him  best, 
and  in  honoring  his  memory  to-day  this  House  reflects  honor 
on  itself. 

In  the  death  of  Mr.  Mahoney  his  State  loses  a  good  citizen, 
his  friends  a  kind,  gentle,  sincere  associate,  his  party  a  faithful 
worker. 

He  was  a  faithful  public  official.  He  died  in  the  sendee 
of  his  country.  We  had  hoped  for  him  long  years  of  useful- 
ness and  honor.  He  left  to  his  family  the  record  of  a  useful 
life  and  a  spotless  name. 


Address  of  Mr.  Hunt,  of  Missouri  29 


Address  of  Mr.  Hunt,  of  Missouri 

Mr.  Speaker:  Upon  my  entering  this  Chamber  for  the  first 
time,  and  having  feasted  my  eyes  upon  this  forum  of  freedom, 
a  strange  and  mingled  feeling  of  awe  and  reverence  took 
possession  of  me,  and  I  moved  like  one  lost  in  a  labyrinth  of 
uncontrollable  imaginings,  which  caused  me  to  look  about 
with  a  longing  desire  to  find  a  friendly  face  to  fraternize  with 
or  a  kindly  nod  to  give  me  welcome.  It  seemed  to  me  that  of 
all  this  assemblage  I  wras  the  only  one  that  did  not  have  at 
least  a  speaking  acquaintance  among  the  membership  of  the 
Fifty-eighth  Congress.  Here  I  gazed  in  stolid  silence,  when 
suddenly  my  attention  was  attracted  to  a  tall,  mild-looking, 
meditative  sort  of  man,  whose  pallid  face  seemed  spread  with 
melancholy,  and  his  eyes  sparkled  with  a  splendid  sadness  as 
he  talked  to  me  and  said,  "  My  name  is  Mahoney,  and  I  take 
it  you  are  a  new  member. ' '  I  answered  him.  He  seemed  to 
realize  my  position  and  remained  with  me  and  we  talked  over 
things  that  presented  themselves  to  our  observation.  What 
he  said  has  been  of  pleasure  and  profit  to  me  frequently  since 
that  day.  A  singular  coincidence  is  here  presented.  Mr. 
Mahoney  was  the  first  speaking  acquaintance  I  formed  at  my 
arrival  at  the  Capitol.  And  now  I  for  the  first  time  beget  a 
speaking  acquaintance  with  this  Congress,  in  order  that  I  may 
give  public  utterance  to  our  common  loss,  and  in  muffled  meter 
mourn  the  lapse  of  life  in  a  kind  and  faithful  friend. 

Mr.  Speaker,  wre  are  forced  to  the  belief  that  the  souls  of 
the  departed  dead  linger  long  and  lovingly  in  the  nether  world. 
Having  escaped  their  environments  of  clay  without  being  able 


30  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 

to  ascend,  remain  suspended  between  this  life  of  labor  and  the 
world  beyond,  for — 

All  houses  wherein  men  have  lived  and  died 
Are  haunted  houses;  through  the  open  doors 

The  harmless  phantoms  on  their  errands  glide 
With  feet  that  make  no  sound  upon  the  floors. 

There  are  more  guests  seated  at  table  than 

The  host  invited;  the  illuminated  hall 
Is  thronged  with  quiet,  inoffensive  ghosts, 

As  silent  as  the  pictures  on  the  wall. 

Mr.  Mahoney  and  myself  chummed  in  the  cloakroom  and 
on  the  floor  of  this  House.  How  well  I  remember  the  last 
time  he  appeared  in  this  Chamber.  The  usual  pallor  of  his 
face  had  faded  into  a  yellow  saffron  shade  and  fell  disease 
reveled  in  the  havoc  it  had  made.  He  was  accompanied  by 
his  little  bright-eyed  boy,  who  seemed  to  be  eager  in  his 
endeavor  to  do  that  which  would  please  his  father.  That 
father's  eyes  were  fastened  on  his  boy  with  a  supernatural 
sight,  which  seemed  to  speak  a  something  his  lips  were  loath 
to  tell.  Arising  to  leave  this  House  forever,  he  said:  "John, 
my  seat  is  much  better  located  than  is  yours.  I  will  be 
away  for  some  time.  You  are  welcome  to  use  it  in  my 
absence.  I  am  not  feeling  well  to-day.  Good  by!"  When 
the  news  of  his  death  came,  it  called  keenly  to  my  mind 
the  knowledge  that  I  had  lost  a  friend,  this  House  a  useful 
Member,  his  family  a  faithful  father.  Death  has  won  its 
usual  victory,  but  heaven  has  gained  a  soul. 


Address  of  Mr.  Foster,  of  Illinois  31 


Address  of  Mr.  Foster,  of  Illinois 

Mr.  Speaker:  Were  I  to  permit  this  occasion  to  pass  with- 
out paying  some  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  my  late 
friend  and  colleague  I  would  feel  that  I  had  been  derelict  in 
the  discharge  of  duty.  My  acquaintance  with  our  late  col- 
league, William  F.  Mahoney,  dates  back  over  a  period  of 
about  fifteen  years,  during  all  of  which  time  I  have  respected 
and  admired  him  for  his  many  manly  qualities  of  heart  and 
mind.  From  personal  observation  and  from  frequent  conversa- 
tions with  him  I  knew  that  he  was  not  in  good  health  during 
his  service  in  Congress,  and  especially  during  the  last  session 
of  the  Fifty-eighth  Congress,  when  he  felt  great  anxiety  as  to 
his  physical  condition.  Hence,  while  I  deeply  regretted  the 
sad  event,  I  was  not  surprised  to  hear  of  his  death  during  the 
early  days  of  the  present  session. 

Mr.  Mahoney  had  been  prominent  in  the  political  life  of 
his  home  city  for  many  years.  As  a  member  of  the  common 
council  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  he  represented  an  important 
constituency  for  several  terms,  until  extensive  private  interests 
compelled  him  to  decline  further  service,  though  he  continued 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  was  elected  to  the 
Fifty-seventh  Congress  as  a  Democrat,  receiving  a  large 
majority,  and  was  reelected  to  the  Fiftj'-eighth  Congress 
without  opposition. 

While  others  may  have  been  more  able  and  prominent  in  the 
legislation  of  this  body,  none  were  more  honest,  none  were 
more  industrious,  none  were  more  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duty  as  public  servants,  and  none  were  more  energetic  in 


32  Life  and  Character  of  IVm.  F.  Mahoney 

attending  to  the  needs  of  their  constituents  than  William  F. 
Mahoney.  He  represented  an  industrial  district,  having  a 
population  thoroughly  cosmopolitan  in  character,  and  there- 
fore a  district  most  difficult  to  represent  satisfactorily.  Mr. 
Mahoney,  though  seemingly  of  a  quiet,  retiring  disposition, 
was  full  of  a  clean,  generous  mirth  and  a  happy  humor  that 
made  him  a  welcome  visitor  to  any  part  of  that  district  and 
gained  for  him  the  respect,  admiration,  confidence,  and  esteem 
of  his  large  and  cosmopolitan  constituency,  irrespective  of 
political  opinions  or  affiliations. 

I  attended  his  funeral,  and  the  demonstration  of  love  and 
affection  that  was  manifested  on  that  occasion  by  a  vast  con- 
course of  people  from  almost  every  condition  of  life,  citizens  of 
his  district  who  had  known  him  all  his  life,  was  a  high  testi- 
monial to  his  worth  and  standing  as  a  man  and  citizen. 

Mr.  Mahoney  was  most  happy  in  his  domestic  relations. 
He  was  a  fond  husband  and  a  kind  father.  He  left  surviving 
him  a  widow,  possessed  of  bright  intelligence  and  praiseworthy 
ambition,  clothed  as  with  a  garment  with  the  beautiful  womanly 
qualities  of  modesty,  energy,  and  courage.  She  had  been  to 
him  a  friend,  monitor,  and  counselor.  Faithful  to  the  last, 
with  a  heart  almost  breaking,  she  stood  at  the  grave  of  her 
husband,  grateful  for  the  sympathy  manifested  on  every  side, 
and  took  up  the  burden  of  his  life  where  he  had  laid  it  down, 
to  see  to  it  that  the  four  splendid  children — two  boys  and  two 
girls — that  he  had  left  behind  him  should  be,  in  some  measure 
at  least,  a  representation  of  the  good  qualities  of  their  father. 
And  those  qualities  were  many,  for  William  F.  Mahoney  was 
truly  a  lovable  man.  Possessed  of  a  happy,  genial  disposition, 
he  was  always  a  welcome  addition  to  social  gatherings.  Those 
who  knew  him  well  will  testify  that  he  had  the  true  gift  of 
conversation,  which    is   to   find   points  of  agreement  and  not 


Address  of  Mr.  Foster,  of  Illinois  33 

points  of  difference.  No  man  ever  left  a  company  of  which 
William  F.  Mahoney  was  a  part  feeling  wounded  by  unkind 
or  even  thoughtless  observations  by  him.  He  was  ever  the 
genial,  warm-hearted,  happy  friend.  There  was  a  touch  of 
feminine  softness  in  his  nature  that  made  it  difficult  for  hini 
to  do  harm  to  anyone,  even  a  foe,  but  it  must  not  be  supposed 
from  that  that  he  lacked  firmness  or  the  power  to  defend,  to 
oppose,  or  to  attack,   if  need  be. 

He  came  of  a  race  that  has  lived  in  history  as  one  of  the 
boldest  and  bravest  and  most  patriotic  of  peoples,  and  there 
was  never  one  of  that  race,  however  great  he  may  have  been 
at  counsel,  however  powerful  in  oratory,  or  however  mighty 
he  may  have  been  on  the  field,  that  had  more  real  firmness 
when  the  need  arose  than  the  humble  descendant  who  filled 
his  place  in  this  House.  I  have  known  him  time  and  again, 
when  some  one  would  presume  on  that  kindly  nature  of  his, 
to  show  that  he  had  an  iron  hand  within  the  velvet  glove. 
He  was  a  man  of  courage  and  stood  for  his  convictions 
manfully.  He  was  a  well-informed  man.  He,  however,  was 
not  a  public  speaker.  He  made  no  pretensions  to  ability  in 
that  regard,  and  consequently  made  no  great  and  command- 
ing figure  here,  but  his  name  will  not  perish  because  of  that. 
There  are  men,  and  men.  There  are  great  men  whom  the 
world  does  not  always  recognize,  and  the  greatest  of  all  is 
he  who  does  his  duty  to  his  family,  his  fellows,  and  himself; 
and  William  F.  Mahoney  was  preeminently  that  man.  He 
was  modest,  unassuming,  honest.  He  was  also  a  religious, 
God-fearing  man.  It  has  been  said  that  men  around  us 
make  their  mark  in  the  sands  of  time,  but  the  waves  of 
oblivion  speedily  efface  them.  He  did  not  make  a  deep 
mark  on  the  sands  of  time,  but  he  carved  his  name  without 
effort  on  the  rocks  above,  where  the  storm  does  not  reach; 
H.  Doc.  468,  58-3 3 


34  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 

and  when  men  of  more  pretense  are  forgotten,  those  who 
knew  William  F.  Mahoney  and  loved  him  will  keep  his 
memory  green  in  their  souls. 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  ask  unanimous  consent  that  all  Members 
who  are  necessarily  detained  from  attending  may  have  leave 
to  print  remarks. 

The  Speaker  pro  tempore.  Without  objection,  it  will  be 
so  ordered. 

There  was  no  objection. 

The  Speaker  pro  tempore.  The  question  is  on  agreeing 
to  the  resolution  offered  by  the  gentleman  from  Illinois  [Mr. 
Mann]  . 

The  resolution  was  agreed  to. 


PROCEEDINGS  IN  THE  SENATE 

MESSAGE    FROM    THE    HOUSE. 

A  message  from  the  House  of  Representatives,  by  Mr.  W.  J. 
Browning,  its  Chief  Clerk,  communicated  to  the  Senate  the 
intelligence  of  the  death  of  Hon.  William  F.  Mahoney,  late 
a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  transmitted 
resolutions  of  the  House  thereon. 

DEATH    OF    HON.    WILLIAM    F.    MAHONEY. 

Mr.  Cullom.  I  ask  the  Chair  to  lay  before  the  Senate 
the  resolutions  of  the  House  of  Representatives  relative  to 
the  death  of  my  late  colleague  in  that  body. 

The  Presiding  Officer.  The  Chair  lays  before  the  Senate 
the  resolutions  indicated  by  the  Senator  from  Illinois,  which 
will  be  read. 

The  Secretary  read  as  follows: 

In  the  House  of  Representatives, 

January  4,  1905. 

Resolved,  That  the  House  of  Representatives  has  heard  with  profound 
sorrow  and  deep  regret  of  the  death  of  Hon.  William  F.  Mahoney,  late 
a  Representative  from  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clerk  communicate  these  resolutions  to  the  Senate, 
and  also  a  copy  thereof  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  Representative. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  further  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the  de- 
ceased Representative  the  House  do  now  adjourn. 

Mr.  Cullom.  Mr.  President,  I  will  take  occasion  at  some 
future  time  to  submit  some  remarks  relative  to  the  life  and 
public  services  of  my  late  colleague.  For  the  present,  I 
offer  the  resolutions  I  send  to  the  desk,  and  I  ask  for  their 
adoption. 

35 


36  Life  and  Character  of  Wm.  F.  Mahoney 

The  Presiding  Officer.  The  Senator  from  Illinois  offers 
resolutions,   which  will  be  read. 

The  resolutions  were  read,   as  follows : 

Resolved,  That  the  Senate  has  heard  with  deep  sensibility  the  announce- 
ment of  the  death  of  Hon.  William  F.  Mahoney,  late  a  Representative 
from  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Resolved,  That  as  an  additional  mark  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  the 
deceased  the  Senate  do  now  adjourn. 

The  resolutions  were  considered  by  unanimous  consent, 
and  unanimously  agreed  to;  and  (at  4  o'clock  and  15  min- 
utes p.  m.)  the  Senate  adjourned  until  to-morrow,  Thursday, 
January  5,  1905,  at   12  o'clock  meridian. 

message  from  the  house. 

February  27,  1905. 
The    message   also    transmitted    resolutions   of    the    House 
commemorative    of    the    life    and    public    services   of    Hon. 
William  F.  Mahoney,  late  a  Representative  from  the  State 
of  Illinois. 

O 


